2023 Horsham District Council election

English council election From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2023 Horsham District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Horsham District Council in West Sussex, England.[1][2] It was held on the same day as other local elections in England.

Quick facts All 48 seats to Horsham District Council 25 seats needed for a majority, First party ...
2023 Horsham District Council election
← 2019
4 May 2023 (2023-05-04)
2027 →
All 48 seats to Horsham District Council
25 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Blank Blank
Leader Martin Boffey Claire Vickers
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative
Last election 13 seats, 28.3% 32 seats, 48.5%
Seats won 28 11
Seat change Increase 15 Decrease 21
Popular vote 32,756 31,217
Percentage 35.5% 33.8%
Swing Increase 7.2 pp Decrease 14.7 pp
  Third party Fourth party
  Blank Blank
Party Green Independent
Last election 2 seats, 3.6% 1 seat, 1.4%
Seats won 8 1
Seat change Increase 6 Steady
Popular vote 18,506 622
Percentage 20.0% 0.7%
Swing Increase 16.4 pp Decrease 0.7 pp
Winner of each seat at the 2023 Horsham District Council election
Leader before election

Claire Vickers
Conservative

 Leader after election

Martin Boffey
Liberal Democrats

Close

The Liberal Democrats gained control of the council from the Conservatives with an 8-seat majority. It was the first time since the 1995 election that the Liberal Democrats had taken control of the council. It was also the worst performance in terms of seats for the Conservative Party in any previous election to the council. The Conservative leader of the council prior to the election, Claire Vickers, lost her seat.[3] Liberal Democrat group leader Martin Boffey was formally appointed the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 24 May 2023.[4]

Council Composition

Prior to the election, the composition of the council was:

↓
29 13 3 3
Con LDem Grn Ind

After the election, the composition of the council was:

↓
28 11 8 1
LDem Con Grn Ind

Results summary

More information Party, Candidates ...
2023 Horsham District Council election[5]
Party Candidates Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal Democrats 48 28 15 0 Increase 15 58.3 35.5 32,756 +7.2
  Conservative 46 11 0 21 Decrease 21 22.9 33.8 31,217 –14.7
  Green 47 8 6 0 Increase 6 16.7 20.0 18,506 +16.4
  Independent 3 1 0 0 Steady 2.1 0.7 622 –0.7
  Labour 31 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 9.5 8,733 –5.2
  Reform 2 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.3 290 N/A
  Peace 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.2 143 –0.2
  Heritage 1 0 0 0 Steady 0.0 0.1 61 N/A
Close

Ward results

Billingshurst

More information Party, Candidate ...
Billingshurst (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Samantha Bateman 1,069 40.0 +10.3
Liberal Democrats Mark Baynham 1,044 39.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats John Trollope 926 34.7 −1.2
Conservative Christopher Brown 871 32.6 −16.8
Conservative Danijela David 807 30.2 −8.5
Conservative Nigel Jupp 802 30.0 −16.9
Labour Jonathan Austin 582 21.8 +5.6
Labour Chris Henson 579 21.7 +7.1
Labour Trishna Julha 532 19.9 +8.3
Green Jonathan Denton 186 7.0 N/A
Green Nikki Nama 180 6.7 N/A
Green Thomas Wilson 128 4.8 N/A
Turnout 2,688 33.43
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Close
  • Nigel Jupp is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Southwater & Nuthurst.[6]

Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote

More information Party, Candidate ...
Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Mike Croker 940 57.7 +10.9
Conservative Roger Noel 800 49.1 +6.7
Liberal Democrats Richard Allen 577 35.4 N/A
Liberal Democrats Andy Mantell 148 9.1 N/A
Turnout 1,641 38.54
Green hold
Conservative hold
Close
  • This was the only seat at the elections where the Green Party did not stand a full quota of candidates.[7]

Broadbridge Heath

More information Party, Candidate ...
Broadbridge Heath (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats James Brookes 579 44.7 −15.3
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Taylor 503 38.9 −12.1
Conservative Aaron Courteney-Smith 332 25.7 −5.9
Conservative Khobi Vallis 322 24.9 −2.0
Independent Terry Oliver 252 19.5 N/A
Labour Jane McGillivray 160 12.4 +1.3
Green Sheila Humphreys 126 9.7 N/A
Green Sandra Vallens 97 7.5 N/A
Turnout 1,299 29.52
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Close

Colgate & Rusper

More information Party, Candidate ...
Colgate & Rusper (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Liz Kitchen 681 48.0 −25.9
Conservative Tony Hogben 639 45.1 −21.7
Liberal Democrats Joel Dinis 485 34.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Simon James 297 20.9 N/A
Labour Donald Mahon 221 15.6 −5.9
Green Freya Finnegan 198 14.0 N/A
Green Yelena Finnegan 124 8.7 N/A
Turnout 1,429 29.31
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Close
  • Liz Kitchen was Leader of the council from 2001 to 2009.

Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead

More information Party, Candidate ...
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lynn Lambert 690 41.5 −27.6
Liberal Democrats Joanne Knowles 669 40.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Paul Dittmer 645 38.8 N/A
Conservative Sarah Payne 633 38.0 −30.6
Green Catherine Briggs 193 11.6 N/A
Labour David Shone 152 9.1 −18.5
Green Amalia Finnegan 148 8.9 N/A
Turnout 1,673 37.76
Conservative hold
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Close

Denne

More information Party, Candidate ...
Denne (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ruth Fletcher 1,337 51.2 −0.3
Liberal Democrats John Milne 1,204 46.1 −2.7
Liberal Democrats Clive Trott 1,153 44.2 −4.4
Conservative Ross Dye 790 30.3 −3.6
Conservative David Walbank 780 29.9 −4.9
Conservative Kimberley Williams 752 28.8 −2.4
Labour Hilary Key 327 12.5 −2.2
Labour Kevin O'Sullivan 287 11.0 −0.2
Labour Matthew Verrall 253 9.7 −2.8
Green Jane Sharp 237 9.1 N/A
Green Vicci Johnson 219 8.4 N/A
Green Robin Johnson 210 8.0 N/A
Turnout 2,620 34.45
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Close
  • John Milne represented Roffey North ward from 2019 to 2023. He is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Horsham Riverside.[8]

Forest

More information Party, Candidate ...
Forest (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats David Skipp 1,382 51.0 +6.4
Liberal Democrats Colin Minto 1,362 50.3 +12.0
Liberal Democrats Jon Olson 1,316 48.6 +6.7
Labour Carol Hayton 695 25.7 +0.3
Labour David Hide 662 24.4 −0.2
Labour Gerard Kavanagh 560 20.7 −0.3
Conservative Michael Revell 385 14.2 −5.2
Conservative Ken Eglinton 379 14.0 −10.1
Conservative Julian Walden 361 13.3 −8.0
Green Hannah Moor 220 8.1 N/A
Green Tony Baker 200 7.4 N/A
Green Lawrence Leather 148 5.5 N/A
Peace James Duggan 143 5.3 −5.4
Turnout 2,711 39.54
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Close

Henfield

More information Party, Candidate ...
Henfield (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Malcolm Eastwood 766 40.3 N/A
Conservative Josh Potts* 753 39.6 +6.2
Green Gill Perry 742 39.0 +10.1
Labour Fiona Ayres 590 31.0 +3.6
Green Sian Fisher 267 14.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Jonathan Dane 193 10.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats Robert Mohamed 83 4.4 N/A
Turnout 1,905 41.45
Independent gain from Independent
Conservative hold
Close

Holbrook East

More information Party, Candidate ...
Holbrook East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nick Grant 874 47.3 +7.8
Liberal Democrats Warwick Hellawell 784 42.4 N/A
Conservative Karen Burgess* 640 34.6 −12.8
Conservative Simon Torn 566 30.6 −21.8
Labour Sheila Chapman 186 10.1 −9.8
Labour Lorraine Barry 172 9.3 −10.1
Green Florian Yeates 150 8.1 N/A
Green Mark Francis 125 6.8 N/A
Reform Tony Rickett 82 4.4 N/A
Turnout 1,855 40.61
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Close
  • Simon Torn represented Roffey South ward from 2011 to 2019.

Holbrook West

More information Party, Candidate ...
Holbrook West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nigel Emery 1,039 50.6 +15.4
Liberal Democrats Chris Franke 913 44.5 +12.4
Conservative Peter Burgess* 750 36.5 −12.4
Conservative Christian Mitchell* 732 35.7 −11.9
Labour Raymond Chapman 192 9.4 −3.6
Green David Hall 148 7.2 N/A
Green Una McCartan 133 6.5 N/A
Labour Ros Shiel 112 5.5 −9.9
Turnout 2,059 41.13
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Close
  • Christian Mitchell is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Broadbridge.[9]

Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham

More information Party, Candidate ...
Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Kasia Greenwood 740 44.2 +12.2
Conservative Tricia Youtan* 683 40.8 −7.6
Conservative Robert Nye 667 39.9 −6.9
Liberal Democrats Brian Tweedy 597 35.7 +6.8
Green Jennie Tomlinson 185 11.1 N/A
Green Andrew Finnegan 145 8.7 N/A
Labour Araminta Barlow 134 8.0 +0.4
Turnout 1,687 37.83
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Conservative hold
Close
  • Robert Nye sat on Horsham District Council in various wards from 1999 to 2011. He was leader of the council from 2009 to 2011.[10]

Nuthurst & Lower Beeding

More information Party, Candidate ...
Nuthurst & Lower Beeding
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Dennis Livingstone 464 44.6 +9.6
Conservative Norman Bryant 397 38.2 −20.1
Labour Hazel Lamb 94 9.0 +2.3
Green Natasha Barnes 85 8.2 N/A
Turnout 1,044 42.68
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing
Close

Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley

More information Party, Candidate ...
Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Jon Campbell 868 41.0 +3.6
Green Len Ellis-Brown 862 40.7 N/A
Conservative Paul Clarke* 813 38.4 −10.6
Conservative Richard Atkins 777 36.7 −11.5
Green Morag Warrack 623 29.4 N/A
Conservative Damian Stuart 566 26.7 −18.8
Liberal Democrats Jane Berry 341 16.1 N/A
Labour Jane Mote 326 15.4 −8.2
Liberal Democrats Chris Geeson 269 12.7 N/A
Reform John Wallace 208 9.8 −11.5
Liberal Democrats John Evans 167 7.9 N/A
Heritage Johanna Hughes 61 2.9 N/A
Turnout 2,124 35.79
Green gain from Conservative
Green gain from Conservative
Conservative hold
Close
  • Paul Clarke was Leader of the council for 207 days in 2021 before resigning.[11]

Roffey North

More information Party, Candidate ...
Roffey North (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Tony Bevis* 845 51.2 +2.5
Liberal Democrats Belinda Walters 771 46.7 +1.6
Conservative Jonathan Dancer 480 29.1 −10.5
Conservative Tracey Grabowski 431 26.1 −7.2
Labour Daniel Everett 218 13.2 −1.5
Labour Kyle Wickens 201 12.2 +0.3
Green Ian Nicol 146 8.8 −5.9
Green Nicholas Linfield 125 7.6 N/A
Turnout 1,661 34.57
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Close
  • Belinda Walters represented Denne ward from 2019 to 2023.
  • Jonathan Dancer represented Roffey North ward from 2015 to 2019.

Roffey South

More information Party, Candidate ...
Roffey South (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sam Raby* 746 48.6 +8.4
Liberal Democrats Jay Mercer 715 46.6 +8.9
Conservative Alan Britten* 448 29.2 −11.0
Conservative Katie Nagel 418 27.2 −13.6
Green Claire Adcock 175 11.4 N/A
Labour Nicola Gardner 171 11.1 −6.3
Labour Sara Loewenthal 170 11.1 −5.3
Green Tony Cook 105 6.8 N/A
Turnout 1,545 31.42
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats hold
Close
  • Alan Britten represented Roffey South as a Liberal Democrat from 2019 to 2023. He previously sat as a Conservative from 2015 to 2019 before defecting to the Liberal Democrats ahead of the 2019 election.[12] He rejoined the Conservatives in 2023.[13]
  • Katie Nagel is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing St Leonard's Forest.[14]

Rudgwick

More information Party, Candidate ...
Rudgwick
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dick Landeryou* 497 55.5 −14.1
Liberal Democrats Patrick Mason 254 28.3 +5.3
Green Harry Tilney 79 8.8 N/A
Labour Rebecca Bainbridge 66 7.4 ±0.0
Turnout 903 38.87
Conservative hold Swing
Close

Southwater North

More information Party, Candidate ...
Southwater North (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mike Wood 732 43.6 +8.1
Liberal Democrats Peter van der Borgh 730 43.5 +8.2
Conservative Claire Vickers* 633 37.7 −13.8
Conservative John Chidlow 605 36.0 −17.3
Labour Jill Clarke 155 9.2 −0.6
Green Nick Barnett 151 9.0 N/A
Green Jill Shuker 149 8.9 N/A
Labour Margaret Cornwell 126 7.5 +0.3
Turnout 1,687 38.19
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Close
  • Claire Vickers was the Leader of the council until losing her seat.
  • John Chidlow represented Southwater from 2011 to 2019.

Southwater South & Shipley

More information Party, Candidate ...
Southwater South & Shipley (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Colette Blackburn 889 50.5 +12.5
Liberal Democrats Alex Jeffrey 699 39.7 +4.6
Conservative Ian Stannard* 689 39.1 −3.1
Conservative Matthew Payne 686 38.9 −5.7
Labour Diane Burstow 173 9.8 +0.7
Green Diana Croker 155 8.8 N/A
Green Peter Shaw 106 6.0 N/A
Turnout 1,777 33.64
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative
Close
  • Ian Stannard was the vice-chair of the council until losing his seat.

Steyning & Ashurst

More information Party, Candidate ...
Steyning & Ashurst (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Victoria Finnegan 895 47.2 +3.1
Green Nicholas Marks 808 42.6 N/A
Conservative Tim Lloyd* 690 36.4 −6.6
Conservative Hattie Shoosmith 576 30.4 −5.6
Liberal Democrats Kevin Hammond 344 18.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Chris Howell 344 18.2 N/A
Turnout 1,911 40.31
Green hold
Green gain from Conservative
Close

Storrington & Washington

More information Party, Candidate ...
Storrington & Washington (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Joan Grech* 1,588 52.1 N/A
Green Emma Beard 1,579 51.8 N/A
Green Claudia Fisher 1,452 47.6 N/A
Conservative Daniel Hall 1,206 39.5 −22.0
Conservative Anthony Watts 1,099 36.0 −23.6
Conservative Gary Markwell 903 29.6 −26.3
Liberal Democrats Janine Milne 411 13.5 −23.0
Liberal Democrats Alex Beveridge 294 9.6 N/A
Liberal Democrats Thomas Worth 264 8.7 N/A
Turnout 3,075 41.07
Green gain from Conservative
Green gain from Conservative
Green gain from Conservative
Close
  • Gary Markwell is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Arundel & Courtwick.[15] He also, simultaneously stood for election in Arun District Council where he was also defeated by The Green Party.[16]

Trafalgar

More information Party, Candidate ...
Trafalgar (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Martin Boffey* 1,287 64.2 +7.0
Liberal Democrats Tony Frankland 1,212 60.4 +7.2
Conservative Tim Nagel 374 18.6 −5.1
Conservative David Thompson 364 18.1 −3.1
Labour Joanne Kavanagh 236 11.8 −4.6
Labour Adam Key 161 8.0 −5.3
Green Wendy Breese 141 7.0 N/A
Green Kim Hope 138 6.9 N/A
Turnout 2,011 42.04
Liberal Democrats hold
Liberal Democrats hold
Close
  • Martin Boffey was, heading into the election Leader of the Opposition.

West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington

More information Party, Candidate ...
West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip Circus* 1,369 46.2 −10.6
Conservative Alan Manton 1,262 42.6 −15.6
Conservative Joy Dennis 1,119 37.8 −10.0
Green Jenny Altamirano Smith 1,046 35.3 N/A
Green Barry Humphreys 981 33.1 N/A
Green Ana Sivers 800 27.0 N/A
Liberal Democrats Ian Miles 533 18.0 −12.1
Independent Caroline Instance 370 12.5 N/A
Liberal Democrats Rob Phillips 288 9.7 N/A
Labour Nick Dalton 240 8.1 −7.6
Liberal Democrats Evan Stone 238 8.0 N/A
Turnout 2,974 42.10
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
Close
  • Philip Circus was Deputy Leader of the council.
  • Joy Dennis is also an elected councillor at West Sussex County Council representing Hurstpierpoint & Bolney.[17]

Changes 2023-2027

The council has held five by-elections during this term (see By-elections below). In addition, two councillors changed party affiliation without a seat being contested:

  • 3 August 2025: Alan Manton (West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington) left the Conservatives to sit as an independent, saying "recent events have made it clear to me that our paths have diverged" and that he now had "more flexibility to advocate without Party Whip and constraints."[18]
  • 23 September 2025: Tony Hogben (Colgate & Rusper) left the Conservatives to sit as an independent.[19]
  • 15 January 2026: Hogben joined Reform UK, becoming the party's first councillor on Horsham District Council, saying "after spending 10 years serving Horsham DC for the Conservative Party, it is clear to me that they are no longer a credible force."[20][21]
  • 30 June 2026: Manton rejoined the Conservatives.[22][23]

By-elections

Henfield

More information Party, Candidate ...
Henfield: 29 February 2024[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Gill Perry 668 44.2 +5.3
Conservative Tim Lloyd 569 37.7 −1.9
Labour Fiona Ayres 215 14.2 −16.7
Liberal Democrats Nico Kearns 59 3.9 −3.3
Majority 99 6.5
Turnout 1,514 33.3
Registered electors 4,544
Green gain from Independent Swing
Close

The by-election was held following the death of independent councillor Malcolm Eastwood in December 2023.[24][25]

Southwater North

More information Party, Candidate ...
Southwater North: 29 February 2024[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Vickers 618 49.0 +11.2
Liberal Democrats Gary Hayes 388 30.8 −13.0
Green Jennifer Nuin Smith 162 12.9 +3.8
Labour Minty Barlow 92 7.3 −2.0
Majority 230 18.2
Turnout 1,267 28.8
Registered electors 4,397
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Close

The by-election was held after Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Wood resigned due to a change in his professional circumstances.[24][26]

Denne

More information Party, Candidate ...
Denne: 21 November 2024[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cheryl Sweeney 712 38.6 +9.2
Liberal Democrats Ben Hewson 672 36.4 –13.3
Green Jennifer Nuin Smith 255 13.8 +5.0
Labour Cameron McGilliray 205 11.1 –1.1
Majority 40 2.2 N/A
Turnout 1,848 23.1 –11.4
Registered electors 7,987
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Increase11.3
Close

The by-election was held after Liberal Democrat councillor John Milne resigned from the council, saying the demands of the parliamentary schedule would make attendance at formal council meetings too difficult to maintain, following his election as MP for Horsham at the 2024 general election. Milne also held a West Sussex County Council seat for Horsham Riverside, which he resigned for the same reason ahead of the county's May 2025 election.[28]

Colgate & Rusper

More information Party, Candidate ...
Colgate & Rusper: 17 April 2025[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Hannah Butler 453 30.3 –0.3
Conservative Josh Bounds 406 27.2 –15.8
Green Andrew Finnegan 375 25.1 +12.6
Reform Robert Nye 206 13.8 N/A
Labour Gerard Kavanagh 53 3.5 –10.4
Majority 47 3.1 N/A
Turnout 1,494 27.7 –1.6
Registered electors 5,389
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing Increase7.8
Close

The by-election was held following the death of Conservative councillor Liz Kitchen on 10 February 2025. Kitchen had represented Colgate and Rusper since 1987 and had served as council leader from 2001 to 2009.[30]

Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham

More information Party, Candidate ...
Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham: 7 May 2026[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ross Dye 773 31.7 –9.1
Liberal Democrats Ed Skeates 757 31.0 –13.2
Reform Robert Nye 662 27.1 N/A
Green Catherine Ross 248 10.2 −0.9
Turnout 2,448 54.1 +16.3
Rejected ballots 8
Registered electors 4,529
Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats Swing
Close

The by-election was held following the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Kasia Greenwood.[31]

References

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